Wireless interface for atm cassette and money transport

ABSTRACT

In an example embodiment, there is described herein an apparatus comprising a cassette operable to store documents, the cassette having an external surface, an electrophoretic display coupled with the external surface, and a wireless interface coupled with the cassette and operably coupled with the electrophoretic display. In particular embodiments, the electrophoretic display is operable to receive data representative of configuration from a wireless device in data communication with the wireless interface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/002,358, filed May 23, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to automated sheet handlingequipment such as automated banking machines, automated transactionmachines and automated teller machines (collectively “ATMs”) andcurrency and document handling equipment.

BACKGROUND

ATMs are configured to perform a variety of functions and transactions,including receiving and dispensing currency notes (“notes”). Other typesof transaction machines dispense notes and other types of sheets tousers such as bank tellers, cashiers and other service providers. Othertypes of automated transaction machines dispense items such as tickets,travelers checks, vouchers or gaming tickets. Automated transactionmachines generally dispense such materials while assessing appropriatecharges and credits to the respective accounts of the user, the machineowner or operator and the provider of dispensed currency or materials.As referred to herein, ATMs include any machine or device and relatedmethods of operation and use for carrying out transactions includingtransfers of value.

ATMs that dispense, or receive and dispense notes other types of sheetsor tokens or coins representative of value are generally constructed toprevent access to the supply of sheets or notes within the machine byunauthorized persons. Most ATMs are configured with a secure chest, safeor other lockable enclosure. Access to the secure chest is controlled bya lock or other security device. The chest is typically configured toinclude or receive multiple storage compartments or containers fordifferent types of notes or items for storage and dispense. A commonconfiguration for note storage within the secure chest is in the form ofmultiple containers or cassettes or media cassettes for receiving andstoring notes in a stack or row and also dispensing notes. Cassettes aremanually loaded, for example at the beginning of a business day, with asupply of notes the denomination and number of which is recordedmanually or otherwise. The content of a cassette may be determined bythe ATM computer programmed to maintain a transaction log or by remotemonitoring of the number and type of transactions performed. Also,cassettes may be configured with one or more content sensors orindicators which operate based upon the physical size of a stack orbundle of notes in the cassette or the position of a pressure plate inthe cassette which bears against a stack of notes.

When a cassette requires reloading, or required reloading is anticipatedfor example by monitored status or predicted status based upon usagepatterns, the chest is opened and the cassette or cassettes removed, anew supply of notes of the desired currency and denomination loaded, andre-installed into the chest of the ATM, and the chest closed and locked.Some cassettes are also equipped with a lock to control access to thecassette contents. With the cassette or cassettes thus reloaded, thischange in status is recorded in the ATM control system and/or monitoringsoftware.

Disadvantages with these configurations include the inability to moreprecisely control access to cassettes and to accurately and easilydetermine and record cassette status.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of thespecification illustrate the example embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an automated banking machine with anexample of a deposit accepting device and a cassette.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an alternative automated banking machine.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a document holdingcassette that is usable in an automated banking machine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit configuration foran automated banking machine cassette as disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 is an image of a wireless device with a representative display ofan application for wireless communication with an automated bankingmachine cassette as disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 is a representative display of an application for wirelesscommunication with an automated banking machine cassette as disclosedherein;

FIG. 7 is representative display of an application for wirelesscommunication with an ATM cassette as disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 is an example of an image of an external cassette display inaccordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an example of an image of an external cassette display inaccordance with an alternative example embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless deviceoperable to configure an electrophoretic display coupled with a cassettevia a wireless interface.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a computer system upon which an exampleembodiment may be implemented.

OVERVIEW OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following presents a simplified overview of the example embodimentsin order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the exampleembodiments. This overview is not an extensive overview of the exampleembodiments. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elementsof the example embodiments nor delineate the scope of the appendedclaims. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the exampleembodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later.

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein, anapparatus comprising a cassette operable to store documents, thecassette having an external surface, an electrophoretic display coupledwith the external surface, and a wireless interface coupled with thecassette and operably coupled with the electrophoretic display. Inparticular embodiments, the electrophoretic display is operable toreceive data representative of configuration from a wireless device indata communication with the wireless interface.

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein anapparatus, comprising a wireless interface and a processor coupled withthe wireless interface. The processor is operable to communicate with aelectrophoretic display coupled with a cassette via the wirelessinterface. The cassette is operable to store documents and one of agroup consisting of dispense and accept documents. The processor isoperable to send instructions to configure the electrophoretic displayvia the wireless interface.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This description provides examples not intended to limit the scope ofthe appended claims. The figures generally indicate the features of theexamples, where it is understood and appreciated that like referencenumerals are used to refer to like elements. Reference in thespecification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an exampleembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described is included in at least one embodimentdescribed herein and does not imply that the feature, structure, orcharacteristic is present in all embodiments described herein.

The present disclosure includes innovations and improvements to ATMcassettes and media cassettes (referred to herein collectively andgenerally as “cassettes”), including the use of hardware and softwareconfigured for wireless interface and communication between cassettesand wireless devices such as portable cellular telephones, smart phonesor tablets. In one example embodiment, cassettes are configured for nearfield communication (NFC) with one or more wireless devices. As furtherdescribed, wireless ATM cassette interfaces of the present disclosureprovide and enable secure data channels between a cassette andauthorized wireless devices when a cassette is either installed orremoved from an ATM, allow service personnel to check on the status ofthe cassette without opening the cassette, allow cash in transit teamsto obtain accurate status records of currency amounts in individualcassettes and multiple cassettes throughout a branch system, andutilizes existing cellular communications networks to facilitatetransfer and exchange of low level data to multiple users of suchinformation.

In a representative embodiment, a circuit card is contained in a mediacassette, the circuit card including a printed circuit board (PCB) nearfield communication (NFC) antennae and accompanying circuitry configuredto interact with a smart phone or other wireless devices via acommunications protocol such as near field communication (NFC). Themedia cassette circuit card also contains a shared memory device whichallows data exchange from a NFC compliant end device to a microprocessorinternal to the cassette.

FIG. 1 shows an alternative example embodiment of an automated bankingmachine 640. Banking machine 640 includes a housing 642. Housing 642 ofthe machine includes a chest portion 644 and an upper housing portion646. Chest portion 644 provides a secure storage area in an interiorportion thereof. The interior of the chest portion may be used forexample to store valuable sheets such as currency notes, travelerschecks, scrip, checks, tickets or other valuable sheets that have beenreceived by and/or that are to be dispensed from the machine. The chestportion includes a suitable chest door and lock for providing authorizedaccess thereto. The upper housing portion 646 of an example embodimentalso includes suitable access doors or other mechanisms to enableauthorized persons to obtain access to items therein. Examples of chestportions are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,830 and U.S. Application60/519,079, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

The example automated banking machine 640 includes output devicesincluding a display 648. Other output devices may include for examplespeakers, touch pads, touch screens or other items that can provide userreceivable outputs. The outputs may include outputs of various typesincluding for example, instructions related to operation of the machine.The example automated banking machine further includes input devices.These may include for example a card reader 650 or a biometric reader.The biometric type of reading device may identify a machine user by acharacteristic thereof. Such biometric reading devices may include forexample a fingerprint reader, iris scanner, retina scanner, voicerecognition device, hand scanner, DNA scanner, implanted chip reader,facial recognition reader, and/or software or other devices.

The card reader 650 is operative to read indicia included on cards thatare associated with a user and/or a user's account. Card readers may beoperative to read indicia for example, indicia encoded on a magneticstripe, data stored in an electronic memory on the card, radiationtransmitted from an item on the card such as a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) chip or other suitable indicia. User cardsrepresent one of a plurality of types of data bearing records that maybe used in connection with activating the operation of example machines.In other embodiments other types of data bearing records such as cards,tokens, tags, sheets or other types of devices that include data that isreadable therefrom, may be used.

In example embodiments data is read from a card through operation of acard reader. The card reader may include features such as thosedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,031, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The example automatedbanking machine is operative responsive to at least one processor in themachine to use data read from the card to activate or allow operation ofthe machine by authorized users so as to enable such users to carry outat least one transaction. For example the machine may operate to causedata read from the card and/or data resolved from card data and otherinputs or data from the machine, to be compared to data corresponding toauthorized users. This may be done for example by comparing dataincluding data read from the card to data stored in or resolved fromdata stored in at least one data store in the machine. Alternatively orin addition, the automated banking machine may operate to send one ormore messages including data read from the card or data resolvedtherefrom, to a remote computer.

The remote computer may operate to cause the data received from themachine to be compared to data corresponding to authorized users basedon data stored in connection with one or more remote computers. Inresponse to the positive determination that the user presenting the cardis an authorized user, one or more messages may be sent from the remotecomputer to the automated banking machine so as to enable operation offeatures thereof. This may be accomplished in some example embodimentsthrough features such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,284,695and/or 7,266,526, the disclosures of each of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety. Of course these approaches areexample and in other embodiments other approaches may be used.

The example automated banking machine further includes a keypad 652.Keypad 652 provides a user input device which includes a plurality ofkeys that are selectively actuatable by a user. Keypad 652 may be usedin example embodiments to enable a user to provide a personalidentification number (PIN). The PIN data may be used to identifyauthorized users of the machine in conjunction with data read from cardsso as to assure that machine operation is only carried out forauthorized users. Of course the input devices discussed herein areexample of numerous types of input devices that may be used inconnection with automated banking machines.

The example automated banking machine further includes other transactionfunction devices. These may include for example, a printer 654. In anexample embodiment printer 654 is operative to print receipts fortransactions conducted by users of the machine. Other embodiments ofautomated banking machines may include other types of printing devicessuch as those suitable for printing statements, tickets or other typesof documents. The example automated banking machine further includes aplurality of other devices. These may include for example, a sheetdispensing device 656. Such a device may be operative to serve as partof a cash dispenser device which selectively dispenses sheets such ascurrency notes from storage. It should be understood that for purposesof this disclosure, a cash dispenser device, is one or more devices thatcan operate to cause currency stored in the machine to be dispensed fromthe machine. Other devices may include a recycling device 658. Therecycling device may be operative to receive sheets into a storagelocation and then to selectively dispense sheets therefrom. Therecycling device may be of a type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,302,393 and6,131,809, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety. It should be understood that a recycling device mayoperate to recycle currency notes and may in some embodiments, a cashdispenser may include the recycler device. Further an example embodimentmay include sheet storage devices 660 of the type previously describedherein which are operative to selectively store sheets in compartments.

The example automated banking machine 640 includes a deposit acceptingdevice 662. The deposit accepting device of an example embodiment isoperative to receive and analyze sheets received from a machine user.The example deposit accepting device is also operative to deliver sheetsfrom the machine to machine users. It should be understood that in otherembodiments additional or different deposit accepting devices may beused. For example, a recycling device as well as a note acceptor thatreceives currency notes are also deposit accepting devices. Further forpurposes of this disclosure a deposit accepting device may alternativelybe referred to as a sheet processing device.

The example automated banking machine 640 further includes a processorschematically indicated 664. The processor is in operative connectionwith a data store schematically indicated 666. The processor 664 anddata store 666 are operative to execute instructions which control andcause the operation of the automated banking machine 640. It should beunderstood that although one processor and data store are shown,embodiments of automated banking machines may include a plurality ofprocessors and data stores which operate to control and cause operationof the devices of the machine.

The processor 664 is shown in operative connection with numeroustransaction function devices schematically indicated 668. Transactionfunction devices 668 include devices in the machine that the processor664 is operative to cause to operate. These transaction function devices668 may include devices such as a card reader, printer, keypad, depositaccepting device, sheet dispenser, recycler and other devices in or thatcoupled with the machine. In an example embodiment the processor 664 isalso in operative connection with a communication device 670. Thecommunication device 670 is operative to enable the automated bankingmachine 640 to communicate with one or more remote servers 672, 674through at least one network 676. It should be understood that thecommunication device 670 may suitably comprise a plurality of interfacesof types suitable for communication through one or more types of publicand/or private networks so as to enable the automated banking machine640 to communicate with a server 672,674 and to enable machine users tocarry out transactions. Of course it should be understood that thisautomated banking machine 640 is an example and that automated bankingmachines may have numerous other types of configurations andcapabilities.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative example embodiment of automated bankingmachine 1440. Automated banking machine 1440 is configured as athrough-the wall machine which enables conducting transactions by a userpositioned externally of a wall or other area in which the machine ispositioned.

Machine 1440 also includes recycling mechanisms 1442 that are positionedwithin a chest position 1444. An upper housing portion 1446 is insupporting connection with the chest portion. A user interface 1448 isprovided for operation by users. The machine includes a sheet handlingmechanism 1450 which in an example embodiment may be similar to sheethandling mechanism 1350. The machine further includes a display 1452, acard reader 1454, a keypad 1456 and a receipt printer 1458. The examplemachine further includes a camera 1460, a 1466, validation devices 1464and other devices suitable for carrying out transactions.

In an example embodiment, the sheet handling mechanism 1450 includes aselectively movable gate 1468. Gate 1468 is selectively movable by oneor more drives of the type previously discussed. In an exampleembodiment, the sheet handling mechanism is selectively operative toreceive and deliver sheets in an angular position that is suitable forthe particular user as represented by the arrows H and L. Thus, forexample, if the automated banking machine 1440 is positioned adjacent toa drive-through lane, users in high vehicles such as pickup trucks maydeliver and receive sheets from the sheet handling mechanism in anupwardly angled direction. Similarly persons in relatively lowervehicles may receive and deliver sheets in a generally horizontal orsomewhat downward direction.

In example embodiments, the at least one processor 1466 of the machinemay operate in accordance with its programming to evaluate theappropriate position for the sheet handling mechanism to accept anddeliver sheets from and to individuals in a vehicle. This may be done,for example, responsive to analyzing ima.about.es captured throughoperation of one or more cameras 1460 to determine the relative verticalposition of an individual positioned adjacent to the machine in avehicle. Alternatively, the at least one processor may be operative inaccordance with its programming to evaluate locations of variousfeatures of the vehicle such as a sill of a door, the top of the roof orother vehicle feature that is indicative of the vehicle height. The atleast one processor may then operate in accordance with its programmingto adjust the operation of the sheet handling mechanism to theappropriate level.

Alternatively or in addition, the example automated banking machine 1440may operate using features of the type described in U.S. Pat. No.8,220,706, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. Such example embodiments of the machine may operate tolocate the position of the user's eyes by analyzing images that arecaptured through one or more cameras 1460. The user's eye position maythen be tracked so as to determine the appropriate position for thesheet handling mechanism to receive and deliver sheets. Such featuresmay be used in machines in drive-through or in interior units which canmore effectively receive and deliver sheets to persons of varyingheights and/or in wheelchairs. Alternatively and/or in addition, themachine may also operate in the manner of the incorporated disclosure toreceive user inputs through eye tracking analysis and to have such userinputs control one or more aspects of machine operation. Of course theseapproaches are just examples and in other embodiments other approachesmay be used.

FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment of a cassette 1500 usable in certainembodiments of automated banking machines. It should be understood thatfor purposes of this disclosure, the terms cassettes and containers areused interchangeably. Automated banking machines may include a pluralityof cassettes. In the illustrated example, cassette 1500 is a documentholding cassette from which documents may be dispensed and into whichdocuments may be received. Of course, it should be understood that theprinciples described can be used in connection with cassettes whichoperate only to dispense documents, as well as cassettes which operateonly to receive documents. Cassettes which operate to receive documentsmay be like those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/461,258 filed May 1, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. Of course, numerous different typesof cassette mechanisms and structures may be used, depending on theparticular type of automated banking machine involved.

The example cassette 1500 includes an interior area 1502 in whichdocuments are stored. In this example cassette, two stacks of documents1504 and 1506 are shown. These documents may be sheets such as currencybills, checks, vouchers, gift cards, coupons or other items, dependingon the nature of the machine and the transactions to be carried out. Theexample cassette also includes within the interior area two mechanisms1508 and 1510. These example mechanisms operate to stack sheets in adocument stack and to selectively pick sheets from a document stack. Insome embodiments, these stacking and picking mechanisms may includefeatures like those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,000, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The examplemechanisms are operative to selectively remove bills from the associatedstack that they can be moved via a transport 1512 to an opening 1514.The documents can be moved from the opening out of the cassette and intoengagement with another transport 1516, which can carry the documents toanother location within the machine for handling. Likewise, documentscarried on transport 1516 can be directed into the opening 1514 andcarried by the transport 1512. Documents in engagement with transport1512 that are incoming to the cassette may be selectively directed toeither of the stacker-picker mechanisms 1508 or 1510. Engagement of thesheets with the mechanism operating in the stacking mode will cause thesheet to be stored in aligned relation in the respective document stack.It should be noted that while the example cassette includes two stackingand picking mechanisms, other cassettes may include different numbers ofsuch mechanisms, or mechanisms that receive documents, dispensedocuments or perform both functions. Some example embodiments mayinclude features disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,554, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The example cassette 1500 also includes a number of other features andcomponents. A gate 1518 which opens and closes opening 1514 isselectively movable by an actuator 1520 in the cassette. The actuator1520 operates to move the gate between the open and closed positions.The actuator may be operated to cause the gate to be in the closedposition when the cassette is removed from the machine. Closing the gatemay secure the cassette so that it can be transported in a manner whereit houses documents while minimizing the risk of unauthorized access toand removal of the documents. In an example embodiment, the actuator mayinclude an electro-mechanical actuator, such as a solenoid, a motor, acylinder, or other driving mechanism that is suitable to impartmovement. Further, the example cassette may include other types ofactuators, such as motors for moving components of the stacking andpicking mechanisms, driving components of the transports, and the like.

The example cassette 1500 further includes at least one processor 1522,which is in operative connection with at least one data store 1524. Atleast one processor included in the cassette is part of internalcassette circuitry, which is operative to execute computer executableinstructions stored in the at least one associated data store. Theexample at least one processor 1522 also operates to receive and storedata. An example embodiment further operates to cause data to bedelivered from the cassette in a manner that is hereinafter discussed.

The example cassette 1500 further includes a number of sensors 1526,1528, 1530 and 1532. These sensors which are shown schematically may beused for a number of different purposes within cassettes of varioustypes. For example, sensors may be used to sense the position ofdocuments within the stacks or documents that move along the transports.Sensors may also be used to detect the positions of gates, pickermechanisms, stacker mechanisms or other structures that are movablewithin the machine. Sensors may also be used in some embodiments todetect the status of lids, gates, diverters or other items on thecassettes. Other sensors may be used for purposes of detecting motion,cassette orientation or other aspects of the cassette or its components.For purposes hereof, sensors may include optical sensors, magneticsensors, Hall effect sensors, sonic sensors, thermal sensors, vibratorysensors, proximity sensors, and any other type of sensor that is usablein connection with detecting a particular condition that needs to bedetected within the particular cassette.

The example cassette also includes additional features that may beusable in the operation of the cassette or the automated bankingmachine. For example, these additional features may include a battery1534. The battery 1534 may in some embodiments be a rechargeable and inothers a non-rechargeable battery. The battery may be usable forpurposes of powering the cassette circuit, actuators, sensors or otheritems within the cassette. Other example items may include a documentdestruction device schematically indicated 1536. The documentdestruction device 1536 may include a device that is selectivelyactivated to destroy the cassette 1500 and/or documents therein inresponse to signals given in response to the detection of certainconditions. The document destruction device may include for example, adye pack, incendiary device or other device suitable to render thedocuments in the cassette 1500 unusable or destroyed in response toactuation thereof. Such a document destruction device may be actuated incircumstances where it appears that the cassette has beenmisappropriated or stolen, either with or separate from the automatedbanking machine.

Other example embodiments may include other features which may be usablein connection with the operation of the machine or the processing ofdocuments. This may include for example, a communication deviceschematically indicated 1538. The communication device 1538 may in someembodiments include an RF type communication device that can send and/orreceive data. Some cassettes with a communication device may communicatewith other devices within the machine. Alternatively, or in addition, inother embodiments the communication device may include a cellular modemor other wireless communication device that can communicate separatefrom the automated banking machine. Such features may be used forpurposes of communicating data regarding documents housed within acassette to the circuitry within an automated banking machine. In otherarrangements, the communication device may operate to communicate thewhereabouts of the cassette during transport or in operation so that thecassettes and the documents therein can be tracked and accounted forduring machine operation, cassette loading and/or transport. Numerousitems of data useful in connection with tracking and managing currencybills or other documents may be communicated through operation ofcommunication devices. Of course example cassettes may include otherdevices as appropriate or useful in connection with their operation.

The example cassette 1500 includes at least one coil schematicallyindicated 1540. Coil 1540 is in operative connection with the cassettecircuit, and in an example embodiment is in operative connection withthe processor, data store, sensors and other devices that are inconnection with the cassette circuit. Although some example cassetteswill have only one such coil and associated circuit, other examplecassettes may include multiple coils and circuits therein as isappropriate for the functions carried out by the cassette circuits. Inthe operative position of the cassette 1500 within the machine, eachcoil 1540 is in proximity with a machine (or primary) coil 1542. Coil1542 is an electrically energized coil that is associated with at leastone driver circuit of the automated banking machine. The energized coilor coils 1542 are operative to create electromagnetic fields that areoperative to produce electrical power in the coil or coils 1540 throughinductance. In this way, the cassette circuit and devices connectedthereto may be electrically powered without the use of wired connectorsor similar items that require additional labor to connect and disconnectwhen cassettes are installed and removed from the machine. Further, insome embodiments, such wireless connectivity may also provide greaterreliability by not having wire connectors which can break, separate orotherwise malfunction. In the example arrangement shown, the respectivecoils associated with the machine and the cassette may be positionedadjacent to one another such that there is a small air gap, which in anexample embodiment is in the range of 10 millimeters. The coil or coils1540 may be positioned adjacent to a bottom surface 1544 of the cassettewhile the coil or coils 1542 are positioned adjacent to supportingsurface 1546, which supports the cassette in the operative positionwithin the interior area of the machine. Of course, this arrangement isexample and other coil arrangements and positions may be used.

In an example embodiment, the electrical characteristics which can beproduced in the coils are also used for communication between circuitsin the machine and the cassette. This is done in the manner hereinafterdescribed so as to enable the machine to communicate instructions and/ordata to the cassette 1500, and the cassette 1500 to communicate dataand/or instructions to the machine. In an example embodiment, a drivercircuit associated with the coil 1542 or coils in the machine operatesto selectively vary the magnetic intensity produced by the coil in waysthat can be detected as changes in the electrical properties of the coilor coils in the cassette. These variations can be interpreted as binarydata which corresponds to transmitted information which can be detectedand utilized by the cassette circuit. Further in an example embodiment,the cassette circuit operates responsive to the processor to vary aresonant frequency of the coil or coils 1540 associated with thecassette. This variation of the resonant frequency is detectable throughoperation of the associated machine coils 1542 so that data in a binaryform can be received and utilized in operation of the machine.

An example of a wireless cassette interface electronics is shownschematically in FIG. 4, and comprises a circuit 400 card with amicroprocessor 402, non-volatile memory 404, optical sensors 406, 408,accelerometer 410, battery power 412 and voltage protection 414,security chip 416, a wireless interface 418, for example a generalpurpose output such as a dual interface Near Field Communication andInter-Integrated Circuit (NFC and I2C) Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), for example an (InternationalOrganization for Standardization) ISO 14443 NFC and an interfaceconnection 420. The power for the cassette electronics may be suppliedby one or more batteries sources 412 within the cassette or from a powersupplied from an interface 422 the exterior of the cassette such as viaa physical electrical connection of the cassette to ATM circuitry, or bywireless connectivity such as inductive coil connection between thecassette and an ATM, as disclosed for example in the commonly ownedco-pending U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263619, theentire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In anexample embodiment, optical sensor 406 can be used to detect thumperpick position. The optical sensor 408 can be used to detect an emptystack.

In an example embodiment, this provides an ATM cassette communicationchannel for ATM owners, bank and financial institution employees,service technicians and cash handlers with greatly improved ease of useand information accuracy and security over the prior art. The wirelesscassette interface 418 is fully functional with cassettes removed froman ATM, by connection to smart phones (e.g., smart phone 424) or otherNFC compliant devices, to enable real-time and continuous tracking. Thecassette data software is programmed to continuously record and storecassette contents and usage history for defined periods and/or over thecassette lifetime.

Further in accordance with the disclosure, wireless communicationinterface 418 is provided for communication with ATM cassettes whileinstalled in an ATM. Data is sent from one or multiple cassettes via awireless communication connection such as NFC protocol at a position onthe exterior of an ATM. To initiate cassette communication orinterrogation, a programmed wireless device such as a smart phone 424 isplaced in close proximity to or in contact with the cassette 400 (orexterior of an ATM). An application on the wireless device 424 forcommunication with cassettes establishes a communication link 420 forexchange of data with one or more cassettes 400. Security features suchas encryption, password protection, digital handshake can beincorporated into the software to control information access tocassettes. Cassette data that is acquired by one or more devices 424 viaa wireless connection can be temporarily stored on the device(s) 424 andthen transmitted by the device(s) 424 at any time to a central networkor cloud service for post aggregation of data from multiple devices, forexample throughout a bank branch or for a geographic region.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, ATMcassettes and media cassettes are configured with an externalprogrammable display 426 for displaying and indicating the content andother data about a cassette on the exterior thereof. In an exampleembodiment, the external cassette display 426 is an ElectrophoreticDisplay such as, for example E INK™ (which has a film containingelectro-optic material which changes in the presence of an electricfield), which can be programmed to form and display any type of symbols,graphics, hieroglyphics, numbers and characters. The external cassettedisplay 426 can be driven, programmed or controlled by circuitry whichis also contained circuit card 400 (that may be on the internallymounted in the cassette which contains the wireless communicationcircuitry. Electrophoretic displays provide the advantages of minimalpower consumption required to alter or program the display, and zeropower consumption once the display is set in a desired state or format.

In particular embodiments, a cassette may further optionally include acassette lid sensor 428, a feed wheel switch 430, a feed wheel lock(solenoid) 432 and associated drive electronics 434. The cassette lidsensor 428 can function as an open/close sensor with a loop back forpresence detection. The feed wheel switch 430 can also be arranged witha loopback for presence detection. Those skilled in the at shouldreadily appreciate that any voltages or other components that areillustrated are merely for ease of illustration as any suitable voltagemay be employed depending on the circuit design.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate representative user interfaces of a wirelesscassette communication application. With the application installed on asuitable wireless device such as a smart phone, an initial display 500shown in FIG. 5 is generated which displays the detected cassette, forexample by serial number or 502 by any other identifier, such as anassociated ATM 504 or terminal, currency identification (e.g. country508 and denomination 506), note count 510 and total cassette contentmonetary balance 512. The display content, format and sequence may be inany suitable configuration or arrangement. Additional information,graphics or data may also be displayed such as financial institutionidentity, ATM/cassette manufacturer, date, time, etc. The display mayalso include a menu of additional application features and functions andpages, for example for viewing cassette metrics 514, updating counts516, updating cassette info 518 or other cassette related data. Thecurrency country 508 may be displayed either as text (e.g., country nameor a code) or a graphic such as a flag representative of the country.

FIG. 6 illustrates a representative wireless device cassettecommunication application display page for cassette metrics 600including for example, but not limited to, lifetime operation log ofsheets dispensed 602, cassette insertions 604, feed fails 606, dispensediscrepancies such as doubles 608, feed fails 610 and doubles 612 sincelast installation or visit, tamper detection 614 and battery status 616.As shown in FIG. 5, an “Update Cassette Info” page of the application isprovided for entering data on any change in cassette status, for examplefollowing a re-load or change in currency or denomination.

FIG. 7 illustrates a representative “cash-in-transit” (CIT) page display700 of the wireless device cassette communication application, which inthe representative format displays a date on which the cassette was lastopened 702, identity of the person or firm that accessed the cassette704, a location where the cassette was opened 706, a residual monetaryvalue of cassette contents 708, and an average of a residual monetaryamount, 710 for example calculated from the last 10 visits or cassetteopenings.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 the cassette displays, indicated generally at800, 900 respectively may be located at any location on or in thecassette exterior structure, such as a side or end wall. As shown, thedisplays 800, 900 may be generally rectangular or in any other shape andin any suitable size. In the representative embodiment shown, thedisplays 800,900 are generally rectangular with approximate dimensionsof 1 inch height and 2 inch width. As shown on the display 800, cassetteinformation such as currency type 802, country of origin anddenomination 804 is displayed as programmed and remains so untilre-programmed by operation of the wireless application. The display asset by the program remains in that state whether the cassette isinstalled or not installed in an ATM. Additional informationand/graphics or symbols which may be presented by the display includebut are not limited to a battery power level indicator icon or symbol,other status indicators or icons, scan codes such as QR codes 806 or barcodes, a financial institution name or acronym and correspondingtrademark or logo 902, as shown. As described in FIG. 4, the circuitryin the cassette contains a NFC antenna and chip which enables a NFCcompliant device to communicate with the cassette circuit card.Information can be passed through the NFC compliant mobile device to thecassette and update the cassette display as desired.

Alternatively, the display content can be updated or changed by anexisting cassette connector interface with an ATM which delivers powerto the cassette when installed in an ATM and provides a communicationchannel for cassette information to be exchanged between the cassetteand the ATM.

ATM cassettes can be manufactured in original form with the describedwireless communication circuitry, power source and external display, andexisting cassettes can be retro-fitted with these componentsirrespective of the original manufacturer.

In another example embodiment of the present disclosure, money transitbags can be equipped with wireless communication circuitry and powersource for wireless digital tracking and recording, for example insubstantially the same configuration as described in connection with ATMcassettes. For example, the communications circuitry previouslydescribed can be incorporated into the structure of a money transit bag,and programmed in any desired configuration such as to uniquely identifythe bag, its ownership, predetermined pick-up and delivery points, anddata recorded at any time by the cooperating wireless device on bagcontents, location and status.

In an example embodiment, a cassette display is of the electronic inktype that uses an electrophoretic display, the movement imparted by anelectric filed to charged particles that are suspended in a liquid. Ingeneral and as known in the art, electronic ink is created by a liquidsubstance that responds to electrical impulses to enable changeable textand image displays on a flexible surface. The electronic ink can includemillions of tiny “switchable” microcapsules or cavities. Themicrocapsules can be of transparent polymer. The microcapsules can besuspended in a liquid carrier medium that allows them to be printed. Themicrocapsules can be about 100 microns wide. Each microcapsule can befilled with an ink or oily substance (dark dye), along with hundreds ofpigmented chips (or balls or particles) which have a positive ornegative charge and which can move or float inside the microcapsules.For example, the chips may be white and the ink blue.

A microcapsule (not shown) may be positioned adjacent a single electrodeor positioned between two electrodes to receive an electric charge. Whenan electrical charge is applied to a microcapsule, the chips thereinmove either to the top or the bottom of the microcapsule (depending onthe applied polarity of the charge and the charge of the chips). Whenpulled/pushed to the top, white chips make the microcapsule look white.This makes the surface of a card appear white to a viewer at that spot.When white chips are pulled/pushed to the bottom, then only the dark inkis viewed (at the top of the microcapsule). This makes the surface of acard appear darker to a viewer at that spot. A pattern of chargesapplied in concert enables a card to have a display of images and text.Patterns of white and dark can be created on a large scale (such as thesize of a card) to form on a card black words and sentences on a whitebackground (or vice versa).

It should be understood that alternative arrangements of microcapsulesmay be used. For example, microcapsules can be used that contain chipsof different colors. Dark chips can take the place of dark liquid inrepresenting a dark surface. Microcapsules can have positively chargedwhite pigment chips and negatively charged black pigment chips (or viceversa) suspended in a clear fluid. The white particles can be a solidsphere of white titanium dioxide. The microcapsules can be positioned(printed) between thin, flexible electrodes, e.g., a top transparentelectrode and a bottom electrode. When a (top) negative electric fieldis applied or generated, the white particles (e.g., chips) move to thetop of the microcapsule where they become visible on the displaysurface. An opposite (bottom, positive) electric field can pull theblack particles to the bottom of the microcapsule where they are hiddenfrom view. The capsules become visible as white. When charge isreversed, the particles are moved to make the capsules appear darker.Suspended in a liquid such as water, the microcapsules can be printed ona surface or an electrode-bearing material just like regular ink.Different particle/chip and electrode arrangements may also be used. Forexample, an arrangement may include positively charged black chips andnegatively charged white chips.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless device1000 operable to configure an electrophoretic display (e.g.,electrophoretic display 426 in FIG. 4, electrophoretic display 800 inFIG. 8, and/or electrophoretic display 900 in FIG. 9) coupled with acassette via a wireless interface 1006. The wireless interface 1006 mayemploy any suitable wireless protocol such as, including but not limitedto, NFC, WIFI, I2C, BLUETOOTH, Infrared, optical, or any combination ofprotocols for communicating with the electrophoretic display. Aprocessor 1002 that is operable to execute an application 1004 sends theconfiguration instructions to the electrophoretic display. A display1008 is operable to display data received from the cassette, for examplethe data illustrated in FIGS. 5-7.i

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a computer system upon which an exampleembodiment may be implemented. Computer system 1100 includes a bus 1102or other communication mechanism for communicating information and aprocessor 1104 coupled with bus 1102 for processing information.Computer system 1100 also includes a main memory 1106, such as randomaccess memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device coupled to bus 1102for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor1104. Main memory 1106 also may be used for storing a temporary variableor other intermediate information during execution of instructions to beexecuted by processor 1104. Computer system 1100 further includes a readonly memory (ROM) 1108 or other static storage device coupled to bus1102 for storing static information and instructions for processor 1104.A storage device 1110, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, isprovided and coupled to bus 1102 for storing information andinstructions.

Computer system 1100 may be coupled via bus 1102 to a display 1112 suchas a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD), fordisplaying information to a computer user. For example, display 1112 maybe employed to an electrophoretic display 426 in FIG. 4, electrophoreticdisplay 800 in FIG. 8, and/or electrophoretic display 900 in FIG. 9. Inanother example embodiment, the display 1112 may be employed toimplement display 1008 in FIG. 8.

An aspect of the example embodiment is related to the use of computersystem 1100 for implementing either or both of the wireless cassette 400(FIG. 4) and the wireless device 800 (FIG. 8). According to an exampleembodiment implementing either or both of the wireless cassette 400(FIG. 4) and the wireless device 800 (FIG. 8) is provided by computersystem 1100 in response to processor 1104 executing one or moresequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 1106.Such instructions may be read into main memory 1106 from anothercomputer-readable medium, such as storage device 1110. Execution of thesequence of instructions contained in main memory 1106 causes processor1104 to perform the process steps described herein. One or moreprocessors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed toexecute the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 1106. Inalternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of orin combination with software instructions to implement an exampleembodiment. Thus, embodiments described herein are not limited to anyspecific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to processor 1104 forexecution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limitedto non-volatile media. Non-volatile media include for example optical ormagnetic disks, such as storage device 1110. Some examples ofcomputer-readable media include for example floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, magnetic cards, paper tape, any other physical mediumwith patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASHPROM, CD, DVD orany other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which acomputer can read.

Computer system 1100 also includes a communication interface 1118coupled to bus 1102. Communication interface 1118 provides a two-waydata communication coupling computer system 1100 to a network link 1120.In particular embodiments, the network link 1120 is a wireless link,such as a NFC, WIFI, I2C, BLUETOOTH, Infrared, or optical link. Thecommunication interface 1118 may be operable to communicate using NFC,WIFI, I2C, BLUETOOTH, Infrared, optical, or any combination ofprotocols.

Described above are example embodiments. It is, of course, not possibleto describe every conceivable combination of components ormethodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatmany further combinations and permutations of the example embodimentsare possible. Accordingly, this application is intended to embrace allsuch alterations, modifications and variations that fall within thespirit and scope of the appended claims interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a cassette operable to store documents, thecassette having an external surface; an electrophoretic display coupledwith the external surface; and a wireless interface coupled with thecassette and operably coupled with the electrophoretic display.
 2. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrophoretic display isoperable to receive data representative of configuration from a wirelessdevice in data communication with the wireless interface.
 3. Theapparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein the configuration data comprisesdata representative of a country of origin for currency stored withinthe cassette.
 4. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein theconfiguration data comprises data representative of a denomination of acurrency stored within the cassette.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim2, wherein the configuration data comprises data representative of afinancial intuition.
 6. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein theconfiguration data comprises data indicating that the electrophoreticdisplay present data in the form of a bar code.
 7. The apparatus setforth in claim 6, wherein the bar code is a quick response (QR) code. 8.The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is anear field communication (NFC) compatible interface.
 9. The apparatusset forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is ainter-integrated circuit (I2C) compatible interface.
 10. The apparatusset forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is operable tocommunicate with both near field communication (NFC) andinter-integrated circuit (I2C).
 11. The apparatus set forth in claim 1,further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is operable toprovide to a wireless device associated with the wireless interfacecassette data.
 12. The apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein thecassette data comprises a selected one of a group consisting of a serialnumber of the cassette, a denomination of currency stored in thecassette, a country of origin for currency stored in the cassette, anote count, a balance of currency stored in the cassette.
 13. Theapparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the cassette data comprisescassette metrics comprising a selected one of a group consisting ofnumber of sheets dispensed, number of cassette insertions, a lifetimenumber of feed fails, a life time number of double sheets dispensed, anumber of feed fails since a last visit, a number of doubles since thelast visit, an indication of whether tampering was detected, and acurrent battery status.
 14. The apparatus set forth in claim 11, whereinthe cassette data comprises case in transit data comprising a selectedone of a group consisting of when the cassette was opened, a residualmonetary value of cassette contents, and an average of residualmonetary.
 15. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium ofinstructions comprising computer readable instructions encoded thereonfor execution by a processor and when executed operable to: display datarepresentative of contents of a cassette on an electrophoretic displaycoupled with an external surface of a cassette; and receiveconfiguration data for the electrophoretic display from a wirelessdevice in data communication with a wireless interface.
 16. Anapparatus, comprising: a wireless interface; and a processor coupledwith the wireless interface; wherein the processor is operable tocommunicate via the wireless interface with a electrophoretic displaycoupled with a cassette, the cassette is operable to store documents andone of a group consisting of dispense and accept documents; and whereinthe processor is operable to send instructions to configure theelectrophoretic display via the wireless interface.
 17. The apparatusset forth in claim 16, wherein the instructions to configure theelectrophoretic display comprise data representative of a country oforigin for currency notes stored in the cassette.
 18. The apparatus setforth in claim 16, wherein the instructions to configure theelectrophoretic display comprise data representative of a denominationof currency notes stored in the cassette.
 19. The apparatus set forth inclaim 16, further comprising: a display coupled with the processor;wherein the processor is operable receive vi data representative ofcassette data that comprises a selected one of a group consisting of aserial number of the cassette, a denomination of currency stored in thecassette, a country of origin for currency stored in the cassette, anote count, a balance of currency stored in the cassette to be output onthe display; and wherein the processor is operable to cause the datarepresentative of cassette data that comprises the selected one of agroup consisting of the serial number of the cassette, the denominationof currency stored in the cassette, the country of origin for currencystored in the cassette, the note count, the balance of currency storedin the cassette to be output on the display.
 20. The apparatus set forthin claim 16, further comprising: a display coupled with the processor;wherein the processor is operable to receive via the wireless interfacedata representative of cassette metrics comprising a selected one of agroup consisting of number of sheets dispensed, number of cassetteinsertions, a lifetime number of feed fails, a life time number ofdouble sheets dispensed, a number of feed fails since a last visit, anumber of doubles since the last visit, an indication of whethertampering was detected, and a current battery status; and wherein theprocessor is operable to cause the data representative of cassettemetrics comprising the selected one of the group consisting of number ofsheets dispensed, number of cassette insertions, the lifetime number offeed fails, the lifetime number of double sheets dispensed, the numberof feed fails since the last visit, the number of doubles since the lastvisit, the indication of whether tampering was detected, and the currentbattery status.